Woman Ties Leaving Store Without Paying, Police Immediately Stop Her

Indexed: 2026-05-21

[00:00:00]New Jersey, late evening, April 2026.

[00:00:03]A woman walks out of a liquor store swearing she paid for everything, but officers already know something isn't adding up. Within minutes, receipts stop matching, [music] stolen items start appearing from inside her purse, and the entire situation turns physical right in the middle of the parking lot.

[00:00:20]Now officers are trying to detain her.

[00:00:22]She's screaming about being touched, her friend is jumping [music] into the argument, and what started as a simple shoplifting call is spiraling into a full arrest caught on body cam.

[00:00:38]Excuse me, ladies. Can I just talk to you real quick? What is it? Can you step over here, please?

[00:00:44]All right.

[00:00:45]Just to let you know everything's being recorded. Okay.

[00:00:47]>> Okay. You guys have any identification on you?

[00:00:50]>> No. What's the problem? Okay. So, we have a report of a shoplifting that occurred. When? Oh, no.

[00:00:55]>> We spent the money.

[00:00:57]Receipt.

[00:00:59]Receipt.

[00:01:00]>> You got the wrong person. You can check.

[00:01:03]I didn't take Before before we go through that before we go through that do you have any identification?

[00:01:08]>> No. Okay.

[00:01:11]Is that okay? I didn't take I didn't take anything. Shoplifting from where?

[00:01:15]Yeah. I'll advise you of the situation for now right now.

[00:01:18]>> But I don't even know what I'm getting arrested for.

[00:01:20]Nope. Nope. You're not leaving.

[00:01:22]>> Okay. You won't You are not leaving right now.

[00:01:24]>> right. You're right. All right. You're right. Then put your bags down. Let me get your right your first name last name.

[00:01:30]Where you guys staying tonight? Check this.

[00:01:35]I can give you my identification.

[00:01:37]First name last name? I want to know what I'm being arrested for.

[00:01:41]Right now we're investigating a theft.

[00:01:43]From where?

[00:01:45]We have the right to know, right? I just gave Your date of birth?

[00:01:48]Oh.

[00:01:51]Cuz I want to know.

[00:01:54]Your social?

[00:01:54]>> I don't know my social. Your address?

[00:01:58]I'm clear.

[00:02:04]I don't know my social.

[00:02:10]Yeah, cuz I got a receipt.

[00:02:11]>> have Do you ever have a New Jersey DL?

[00:02:14]No.

[00:02:16]Lakesha, that's l a k e i s h a. Yes.

[00:02:21]Last name Bell? Yes.

[00:02:23]What's your date of birth? 12 um 12 26 1988. What's your date uh age? My age is the 20 I mean I said 20 36.

[00:02:35]I'm about to be 36 35 you could say.

[00:02:38]Is that Is that Is this your social security card down there?

[00:02:42]Yeah. 12 26 86, right?

[00:02:45]>> Yes.

[00:02:50]Oh, let me get my purse.

[00:02:52]Oh, where my stuff in my bag?

[00:03:00]12 Bravo 11 dispatch.

[00:03:12]We're going to have two females stopped right in front of the auto shop.

[00:03:17]Nope. I'm going to give you name DOB and check it all around, please.

[00:03:23]She's downstairs?

[00:03:24]No.

[00:03:28]We have you on camera. So, you what?

[00:03:30]Some plastic is missing. Where they at?

[00:03:33]In your pocket.

[00:03:36]Nothing.

[00:03:38]Nothing. You didn't take them? No. Cuz they said they did. Well, that's what they said. That's saying that's what they saying. Ma'am. I'm not going to nowhere.

[00:03:45]>> Then stay over there.

[00:03:48]Last name DOB Bell.

[00:03:51]That's Bravo Echo Lima Lima.

[00:03:54]First name is going to be Laquisha.

[00:03:56]That's Lima Alpha Kilo Echo India Sierra Hotel Alpha.

[00:04:02]DOB is going to be 12 26 86.

[00:04:10]Ma'am, you don't have a driver's license anywhere?

[00:04:15]I didn't find Yeah, I gave I gave you back your social security card and your Right?

[00:04:23]Now what?

[00:04:26]It's all part of the investigation. Do what? Do what? We're doing our part of the investigation.

[00:04:33]Yeah. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here. I'm standing right here.

[00:04:40]Name, date of birth, also your social all right.

[00:04:49]12 46 C, what's the street? Mravelagmina M R A N G O Alpha Sierra Foxtrot Hotel Alpha M R A V L A G Mravelagmina R 6 7 1979 What was that again?

[00:05:10]M R A V L A G 16 86 Why you looking at me like that?

[00:05:16]>> No, I'm not looking at you. Oh, I can tell you looking at me that way in my sleep.

[00:05:20]What time is that?

[00:05:22]Elizabeth, New Jersey I'm not under arrest.

[00:05:34]Stay Stay by the window. IS THAT WHAT THE ARREST IS? IS THAT WHAT THE ARREST IS? I'M NOT BEING DETAINED.

[00:05:40]I'M NOT BEING DETAINED FOR NOTHING. IT'S AN investigation for the time. I don't care what you say. I'm not being investigated for nothing. If I'm not under arrest, I'm able to leave. Y'all can ask her if I am.

[00:05:50]You saw it already? So, I take it.

[00:05:53]I'm not.

[00:05:54]All right. That's my bag. Can you let go of my No. No. No. You're not taking the bag. Stop. That's it. That's my bag.

[00:05:59]Stop. I'm not resisting. Stop the bag.

[00:06:01]Drop the bag.

[00:06:02]>> bag. Drop the bag.

[00:06:03]>> Drop the bag. It's not that hard.

[00:06:38]9:30.

[00:06:41]I'll be in the station, right?

[00:06:42]That's your first name?

[00:06:44]Well, I'll be in the restroom.

[00:06:45]Absolutely.

[00:06:46]All right, search the bag.

[00:06:48]Search the bag?

[00:06:50]Is there anything on you that could poke or stick me? No.

[00:06:53]Yeah, don't touch this bag. This is my bag. YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TOUCH IN MY BAG. I do, ACTUALLY.

[00:07:04]OH, WOW.

[00:07:06]LOOK AT THAT.

[00:07:12]Y'all give my stuff in my bag. Y'all got the flashes. Give me my bag.

[00:07:16]Just make sure she comes back.

[00:07:18]Give me my bag.

[00:07:20]That's it. No, I need to take this bag off. For what? For what? You're being arrested.

[00:07:25]>> All right, I'm being arrested.

[00:07:26]Yeah, I'm being arrested, BUT I CAN GIVE MY STUFF TO MY SISTER.

[00:07:29]>> Not right now. Why not?

[00:07:30]>> Once we search it, she can get it. Oh, y'all can search it? Y'all got what y'all looking for in the bag?

[00:07:35]All that's painful. I got she's going to let Ain't nothing in it.

[00:07:40]I will love it. We have one of our female officers.

[00:07:45]It's my daughter belongings. Yes.

[00:07:57]Let my arm go. Why you holding my arm?

[00:07:59]RELAX YOURSELF. YOU'RE A MAN. YOU'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE DETAINING ME. Relax yourself. That's what I'm trying to get Relax yourself. [clears throat] Relax.

[00:08:05]I'm trying Hey. Hey. HE DON'T HAVE TO GRAB MY ARM THOUGH. HE'S GRABBING MY ARM. HE DON'T HAVE TO MY ARM. THAT'S ALL HE GOT.

[00:08:11]THAT'S ALL HE GOT. LET ME GO. DANG.

[00:08:12]THAT'S ALL. WHAT THE [ __ ] YOU BEING SO AGGRESSIVE FOR? RELAX. HE'S BEING AGGRESSIVE THOUGH. IT'S NOT ME. YOU NEED to take it off.

[00:08:23]It's all going with you. No. No. GIVE ME MY MONEY. GIVE ME ALL MY MONEY. LOOK. I CAN TAKE MY MONEY AND STUFF OUT OF MY THAT'S FINE.

[00:08:30]HE'S GRABBING MY ARM THOUGH. HE'S GRABBING MY ARM. YO. STOP. STOP. HE'S GRABBING MY BUT HE'S GRABBING MY ARM. You're here. I CAN I CAN THAT'S ENOUGH. This is my That's enough. He's grabbing my arm.

[00:08:40]GIVE ME MY MONEY. GIVE ME MY STOP. STOP. We're just going Give me my money. Stop. We're just going Give me my money. Give me my hand, please.

[00:08:49]Can I have my Look. We're going to We're going to give it to you. We're going to.

[00:08:52]Give us a second. You need to stop.

[00:08:54]I I did stop. Look at this man grabbing me. What the [ __ ] Let go. Let go. Let go. You got it. Let's go. Give me my money. Let's go. Give me my arm. Give me my arm. Give me my stuff OUT OF MY BAG.

[00:09:03]I I WANT TO GET MY PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION.

[00:09:05]>> BACK. STOP. STOP.

[00:09:08]STOP. I'm backed up. Come on. Take it off.

[00:09:11]All right.

[00:09:16]WHAT IS THAT? GRABBING ME AND detaining me like I'm a man for? Y'all is bugging.

[00:09:19]We're not going to move. You're not cooperating. I AM COOPERATING. Y'ALL KEEP TELLING ME DON'T MOVE. I'm not moving.

[00:09:25]Can I please get my stuff? I am. CAN I GET CAN I GET EXCUSE ME. He's grabbing Yeah. Now I'm trying TO GET ON MY BAG.

[00:09:32]ALL MY KEYS AND ALL THAT STUFF IN IT.

[00:09:38]Take my watch.

[00:09:44]Ma'am, do me do me a favor.

[00:09:46]Ma'am, right here.

[00:09:47]Wait until we finish our investigation.

[00:09:49]>> is Fatima Smith. That's my name.

[00:09:51]That's my real name.

[00:09:55]You have You gave my my officer your uh He has my information already.

[00:10:00]Hey.

[00:10:02]You want to call her? You want to call her yet? You want to call her yet? Yes, he did.

[00:10:11]We already have somebody in mind, so Well, I have nothing to do with that.

[00:10:15]Okay.

[00:10:19]Give him my card, please.

[00:10:21]That came out of my pocket. DAMN, GIVE MY CARD. WHY DOES SHE HAVE her phone?

[00:10:24]You want my I'm showing HIM I'M I'M SHOWING HIM MY NAME.

[00:10:26]>> YEAH, but you still don't You still don't get that possession of your phone.

[00:10:43]This is your item, ma'am? This one?

[00:10:45]>> Yeah, that is mine.

[00:10:46]This is mine. And just going to search your wallet and your phone. Why?

[00:10:50]He searched everybody.

[00:10:53]It's okay.

[00:10:55]NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME.

[00:11:11]ALL RIGHT.

[00:11:12]SO, RIGHT NOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ON YOU THAT WE SHOULD BE aware of?

[00:11:16]On me, like what? Like any any items or anything I just He just searched me. It's nothing. This belongs to me. This is mine. I got you, ma'am. I apologize.

[00:11:28]I just want to make sure, okay? Yeah, okay.

[00:11:34]We're taking your phone.

[00:12:29]That's mine.

[00:12:31]Yeah, no I didn't have them. That's you.

[00:12:34]It's not yours. Do you have any credit cards in there? No, my cards I just gave you my ID.

[00:13:07]Thank you.

[00:13:10]Yes. It wasn't another one.

[00:13:15]Where's the card that says 6452?

[00:13:20]Did the shopper have a card? I don't have that.

[00:13:22]That's on my phone. The 6452 credit cards? Yeah.

[00:13:26]Oh, it's on her Apple Pay. It's the Apple Pay.

[00:13:39]>> Sorry. Bravo 11 to Bravo 5, we need a supervisor at the mall entrance.

[00:13:46]You can get on your phone.

[00:13:48]Yeah.

[00:13:50]Is that what you're waiting for?

[00:14:18]All right, y'all can scan my fingerprints when I get to the police station. I'm going to That's how I'm going to get my stuff back, right? Nope, you're under arrest.

[00:14:25]What am I under arrest All right, well.

[00:14:26]Now you know why you're So what happens So what So what happens Ain't going to come back to me.

[00:14:47]The turn on the good?

[00:14:49]Yeah. Uh actually uh I didn't get anything back.

[00:14:52]>> Okay.

[00:14:54]Well, she good.

[00:14:56]You got to take me.

[00:14:58]What y'all waiting for?

[00:15:01]Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

[00:15:12]You take this back.

[00:15:13]Okay, thank you. You're welcome.

[00:15:16]Take my stuff, too.

[00:15:18]Just a sec. Give us a second.

[00:15:20]Just give us a second.

[00:15:32]Just give us a heads-up.

[00:15:34]Travel by 11. What's your location at the mall?

[00:15:40]We're at the high-end entrance. You'll see our cars right by Green Deck.

[00:15:45]>> [music] >> We're right outside Bloomingdale's entrance.

[00:16:04]This isn't a bandage.

[00:16:06]I know, isn't it? What's your name?

[00:16:08]You're under arrest for theft.

[00:16:09]What's your name? I'm not telling you my name. Okay. I'm wearing the jeans, so I'm not You're under arrest. And then Okay, we'll just fingerprint you again.

[00:16:15]All right, let's go. Yeah, she's not No, no, no, no. I'm not going to get my belongings.

[00:16:20]There's another charge. All right, it's I have to get my belongings. You don't.

[00:16:24]I don't.

[00:16:26]Shut the [ __ ] up. I said you was.

[00:16:28]Still waiting. Still waiting.

[00:16:36]Can you explain to her that compliance is the easiest way to go? I'm being arrested. I don't have to comply.

[00:16:42]Just relax.

[00:16:45]Please. I am relaxing. They just don't want to You see how they grabbing me up here?

[00:16:50]We're just doing our job. No, he's grabbing me up, twisting my arm back here. That's not your job. If you weren't listening to our instructions Every time we told you to stand there you Uh whose phone is that? This is her phone. All right. Can you and Kelly just take her out, wait for Yvonne? Um yeah.

[00:17:07]Don't even put her in the back. Just wait for Yvonne to get there so she can search her.

[00:17:15]Thank you.

[00:17:15]>> All good.

[00:17:17]All right, ma'am, you can take these.

[00:17:18]>> Okay. Thank you. Thank You have a good day, man. All right. Thank you.

[00:17:21]Bye.

[00:17:57]They They saw it? Right. They saw her take it. They saw She was behind the counter. They saw her move it behind the thing. And then she started putting her back with her pocket.

[00:18:07]Sat down for a little bit. They talked a little bit more. And then they walked off. Okay. Thank you.

[00:18:35]I'm good, man. Thank you.

[00:18:46]Actually, let me just uh Let me get your info real quick. Just uh Nope.

[00:18:51]Let me get your info real quick. Yeah.

[00:18:56]Is it That's it. That's Bratch. B R A T S E H. Badge number is 697.

[00:19:03]All right. Thank you. Yep. You got it, bro.

[00:19:07]You want to Yeah. This is my first time this side of the tracks.

[00:19:13]Yeah. What happened? her in.

[00:19:15]No.

[00:19:45]This is very important.

[00:19:49]What? All right, 12 Bravo.

[00:19:51]>> Being arrested, yeah. What ID? That's my ID, yeah.

[00:19:57]07 94 907 01 012 Excuse me. That's fine. What's the next step? I'm going to have my phone or am I going to have my phone in jail or am I going to be No, no, you're going to get processed and then you're going to be released. As long as you cooperate. I am cooperating. No, I'm You got to You got to >> Let me tell you this. You got to When y'all stopped me, I stopped, correct?

[00:20:20]>> Yeah. When you asked me something, I gave you I asked to search me, I let y'all search me.

[00:20:25]Once I went to GO IN MY BAG OR WHEN I START START PACING BACK AND FORTH, HE GETTING UPSET. OH, stay still. I'm nervous. I'm going to move. I'm hot at the SAME TIME. I DON'T ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL GOT ME SO I'M STILL ALL RIGHT, BACK. I GAVE Y'ALL WHAT Y'ALL WANT. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. HE SAID THIS IS MY NAME. NO, this is my name. Cuz once he seen the credit cards, I don't need a debt. You get what I'm saying? Here, this is my name. This is my card.

[00:20:46]That's it. Okay. All right. This This officer is going to search you, okay?

[00:20:50]>> No problem.

[00:20:51]I don't have nothing on me.

[00:20:53]You can search me. You can search me.

[00:20:54]All right, 10-4. That's what you're going to No, I gave her everything. They checked all of that.

[00:21:00]All my stuff is paid for. It's cool.

[00:21:03]It's cool. It's cool. I ain't giving them no hassle. I'm letting them check me.

[00:21:07]I don't got nothing on my baby's socks, all right? Get her ID.

[00:21:19]Cuz she going to pick me up here, right?

[00:21:24]Will she be able to pick me up?

[00:21:38]This one? This one? Yeah, this one. All right.

[00:21:41]All right.

[00:21:53]Hey, uh what's your name? What's your first name? Fatima. Fatima, just be advised that you are being trespassed against the small court of for two years. Do you understand?

[00:22:04]No, I am not trespassing.

[00:22:06]Why are you not?

[00:22:09]They don't get the get the prison from the prison. Okay.

[00:22:12]>> [music] >> Hey, what's up?

[00:22:21]890 just one?

[00:22:24]All right. Thank you.

[00:22:27]All right.

[00:22:36]Yeah, he's still he's still watching her now. Okay.

[00:23:06]>> Thank you. Thank you.

[00:23:09]I don't want to get As soon as you get down here, you can call.

[00:23:30]All right, ma'am. Just so you know, as you can see, the back seat of this car is clear. When you get to headquarters, and there's something in the back of this car, you'll be charged with it.

[00:23:42]Well, check it again to make sure there isn't We will check it.

[00:23:45]Is my tone like No, but it's not. Or is it Or is everyone just Yes, ma'am.

[00:23:54]Where's her Where's her phone? He's got it.

[00:23:56]All right, I just put it on airplane airplane mode.

[00:24:04]Here.

[00:24:21]Ending interaction.

[00:24:22]What makes this case interesting is how quickly a low-level theft investigation turned into a much more serious police encounter. According to the officers and store employees, the women were suspected of attempting to leave the liquor store without paying for multiple items. At the beginning of the stop, the primary suspect repeatedly denied [music] stealing anything, and insisted she had receipts proving every item had been purchased legally. But, once officers began checking bags and comparing the merchandise to the receipts, several items reportedly did not match what had been paid for.

[00:24:56]That discovery [music] changed the entire situation. Under New Jersey law, shoplifting is covered under NJSA2C:20-11, which makes it illegal to purposely [music] take merchandise or conceal unpaid items with the intent to deprive the store of its property.

[00:25:13]Even if the value of the merchandise is relatively small, officers can still make an arrest if they believe probable cause exists. In this case, the concealed merchandise allegedly found inside the purse gave officers enough evidence to continue detaining her.

[00:25:29]The situation became more chaotic once officers attempted to physically control the suspect during the detention.

[00:25:36]Body cam footage shows the woman pulling away, [music] yelling, arguing with officers, and accusing them of grabbing her improperly. From the officers' perspective, once a lawful detention or arrest is underway, pulling away or refusing commands can lead to additional charges beyond the original theft allegation. In many states, including New Jersey, resisting arrest does not require someone to attack an officer directly.

[00:26:01]Refusing to comply, physically tensing up, or interfering with handcuffing can still be interpreted as resistance, depending on the circumstances.

[00:26:10]Another major factor in the escalation was the emotional intensity of the encounter.

[00:26:15]The suspect appeared convinced she could argue her way out of the situation, even after officers claimed they had already located the unpaid items.

[00:26:24]Instead of calming down once the investigation shifted toward arrest, the confrontation became louder and more physical.

[00:26:32]The second woman also added pressure by arguing with officers during the detention, [music] creating a more unstable scene overall.

[00:26:39]Cases like this are exactly why body cam footage [music] spreads so quickly online.

[00:26:44]Viewers are not just watching a shoplifting call, they are watching the moment a suspect realizes the situation is no longer under their control. What begins as denial slowly turns into panic, frustration, and resistance once evidence is presented and officers begin taking action. At the end of the day, police were [music] responding to a theft complaint, conducting an investigation, and acting on what they believed was probable cause.

[00:27:10]The alleged stolen merchandise combined with the resistance during detention is what ultimately led to the arrest. And once the encounter crossed that line, [music] the original accusation of shoplifting became only one part of a much bigger problem caught entirely on camera.